Service Dog Changed Mans Life

Soon after Neil returned from the USA he started to develop full blown symptoms of MS.

He said when he sold off his bike, his son was ‘devastated’ as the pair enjoyed long trips out riding during the English summer.

As the illness began to progress, he had to take a backseat to his families activities, swapping adventure for time spend in coffee shops reading.

He said: “Mentally as well as physically, my world was changing and the walls were starting to close in on me.

He said his colleagues and family helped him feel as though things would be okay.

He said: “I found myself staying in the office and not going out at lunchtime. I felt really embarrassed on my scooter and people on the street would avoid and ignore me and it wasn’t at all pleasant.”

Neil was, understandably, grieving for the life he had lost.

They discussed getting a pet dog and looked into rehoming one from a local charity.

It was then that he discovered Dogs for Good, a charity that trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

Neil registered his interest with Dogs for Good in 2016 and waited for three years until the charity was able to invite him to an Information Day in February 2019.

Neil said: “Dogs for Good received literally thousands of enquiries every year from people like me who would like an assistance dog, so it was really quite humbling to receive a call to tell me that we were through – once the right dog was available, we’d be matched. All we had to do was wait.”

In October 2019, Neil eventually received the phone call he’d been waiting for, as the family were introduced to a black labrador named Sage.

Neil said: “Right from the moment she wagged her way across the office, the walls that had been closing in started to recede.

A home visited completed the assessment and thankfully it all went well.

Neil described the experience as ‘magical’, and said he could instantly see how Sage would ‘open up his world again’.

Six months on and Sage and Neil are now a closely-bonded partnership. Jen worked with them both every day for a number of weeks to ensure that they both understood each other and how to get the best out of the partnership.

He admitted it was hard work but said that the rewards had transformed his life.

Sage now helps Neil with the task work she’s been specially trained to do such as picking up items he’s dropped, helping him on and off with items of clothing, bringing him his sticks, opening doors for him and also putting down the footplates on his wheelchair.

With Sage at his side, Neil no longer feels embarrassed on his scooter and every lunchtime, they go out together.

During the current coronavirus pandemic, Neil has been told to stay at home because his immune system is severely compromised as a result of a new drug he’s been taking since January. “

I absolutely can’t afford to get Covid-19,” said Neil.

“But because we’re fortunate enough to live somewhere that’s quite remote, we can get out but above all else, we’re lucky enough to have Sage, who opens up the doors, even in lockdown.”